Trains and flights cancelled plus chaos on the roads as Storm Doris batters Coventry

Storm Doris today wrought havoc on Coventry as 75mph winds battered the city and the region.



Workers on high-rise student developments at Bishop Gate, Belgrade Plaza and Hales Street downed tools as cranes swayed violently in the 60mph gusts and protective sheeting was torn away.

Later in the day several bus services had to be diverted following reports of an “unsafe building” in Greyfriars Road, near Warwick Road.

Forecasters had warned that gale force winds and heavy rain would cause widespread disruption across Coventry and Warwickshire.

The Met Office said buildings, trees and power lines could be damaged, and that there was a danger of being injured from flying debris.

A spokesman for Vinci, which is building the Bishop Gate development, said: “Wind has stopped work.

“However, the cranes will still move freely in the wind similar to a weather vane.”

Two people had a lucky escape after a tree fell on a car in Coventry Road, Nuneaton, just after midday.

The 17-year-old woman driving managed to get out of the car herself but was complaining of neck and shoulder pain and was taken to Coventry’s University Hospital.

A 46-year-old man in the passenger seat was complaining of head pain but was discharged at scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival, crews found a car that had suffered considerable damage to the roof, with the ceiling being pushed down into the vehicle.”

Rugby Police tweeted that a driver had a “very lucky escape” after huge branch crushed a car in Deerings Road, Hillmorton.

Coventry Cathedral tower had to be closed to the public, as were Twycross Zoo and Kingsbury Water Park.

The Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance based at Coventry Airport was grounded due to the high wind, and a sign fell on an ambulance at Nuneaton Fire Station, although no-one was inside at the time.

Power cables were brought down in Fillongley and numerous trees were blown over, including a huge one at Coventry Golf Club.

On the railways there were numerous delays and cancellations on London Midland and Virgin services, and in one incident a shed blew onto the line near Nuneaton.

Waves were seen breaking at the normally calm Draycote Water and a set of traffic lights on the A46 at Longbridge Island were spun around.

Amber warnings predicting strong winds and heavy rain are in place for the Midlands.

'Travel chaos in Coventry', no change there then?